Sitting by the Pool, Planning for School- Making Back to School with Food Allergies Easier

It is summer- time to relax, slow your roll and enjoy.  We are embracing our laid back schedule, days at the pool, and grilling out with friends and family.  The lazy days of summer are a welcome change after our hectic school year.  And, I am not going to lie, I love that my sweet girl is home with me for lunch- less worrying for me about cross-contact in the cafeteria!  But, before we know it, it will be time once again to head back to school.  While we should all enjoy this lovely break called summer it is important to stay on the ball with some food allergy related items so that when the school bells start ringing we are all prepared for a safe year.

My Thrive On 3 this week- three things to do now to be prepared for attending school this Fall with food allergies.

Doctor’s Directives

Schedule your appointment now with your allergist to ensure you have any needed paperwork completed for the school, as well as to update your emergency action plan.  If you have a food allergy you need to have a board certified allergist helping you to map out how to respond in an emergency situation.  FARE offers a great emergency action plan that you can download and have your doctor complete.

Your emergency action plan will become a critical component of the paperwork you share with your school to ensure any emergency situation is managed effectively.  Don’t wait until the last few weeks of summer when appointments may be hard to come by.  Call now and schedule your appointment so you know you will have your paperwork and plan ready to go. 

Also, be sure to check the expiration dates on your EpiPens® to be sure you have current medications ready for back to school.

Gear Up

One thing I have learned through our food allergy journey is that we need stuff- we need a great lunch box, we need carriers for our medicines, we need ID tags for personal items.  I have also learned that this stuff can add up!  Start now by making a list of the items you will need for school and begin to research and purchase those items throughout the summer.  Getting your head around what you need now can help to alleviate some stress because you will feel prepared when the back to school rush starts, and you can also spread out the expense by purchasing items over the course of the summer rather than getting everything at one time. 

You will decide what works best for your family and what you want to have as a part of your food allergy protection toolbox but here are a few suggestions:

•    Quality Lunch Box with Reusable Containers- you are going to pack lunch A LOT so a good lunchbox is worth the investment.  We love the Bentology boxes.  Another great trick for a reusable lunch item- buy a 5 pack of baby wash cloths (in plain colors or a not so baby-ish print) to use as re-useable napkins all year long.

•    Medicine Carriers and Medical ID Tags- check out AllerMates and AllergyApparel for great options. For carriers think about features like straps or hooks for ease of carry.

•    Table Covers for Lunch- we eat out of our lunch box, but check out Wrap-N-Mat for an option.

•    ID Bracelets- we love I.C.O.E. Bracelets which are completely customizable. 

•    Water Bottle- we always opt for one that the straw is completely covered when closed to prevent it from coming in contact with anything else.  Our Thermos brand bottle has held up for two years of everyday use and is still going strong.

•    Wipes- I am always donating wipes for school events and field trips and I also stock my daughter’s backpack and activity bags with individual wipe packets so I stock up when I catch them on sale through the summer.

•    Cupcake Carrier- if your school allows treats to be sent in for parties or birthdays you may find that you are sending in safe treats rather frequently.  An individual cupcake carrier makes it easy to transport your safe cupcakes into school.  Amazon has a few different options- both reusable and disposable- just search individual cupcake carrier.

•    Wine- just kidding, kind of!

Early Education

Start making plans and appointments now to communicate with your school staff about your needs for the year.  This could include conversations with your teacher/teachers, cafeteria staff, school nurse, the 504 coordinator, coaches, or after school activity coordinators.  Begin to map out what you need and want to share with your school personnel and prepare any required documentation.  Also, be prepared to share your emergency action plan and any other critical information you want to communicate to staff.  I highly recommend meeting staff in person and following up in writing after the meeting to restate agreements and to have a record of your conversation.

Summer is also a great time to start to teach your child age-appropriate self advocacy skills.  For older kids, this might mean role-playing situations that might arise such as being offered food at school or helping them determine responses to bullying behavior.  It is also a great time to have them practice self-carrying their EpiPen® while they are with you if they will be making the transition to carrying it in the upcoming school year.  For younger children, it might mean helping them to identify their allergens.  We made our house a safe bubble, but realized when our daughter went to Kindergarten she might not recognize some of the foods that could present a danger to her.  I made flash cards of foods containing her allergens and every so often we flipped through them.  By the time school started she could recognize her allergens in various forms.  For younger kids, another great idea is to have them eat out of their lunch box at home a few times to get used to opening and closing containers and using table covers. 

Ready for that wine?  It seems like a lot to do, but if you start now and spread out all of this food allergy prep work over the summer you will feel in control and ready to go when that school bell beckons.

Thrive On!

Product Disclaimer:

Thrive On Consulting does not sponsor or endorse the products listed.  Nor has Thrive On Consulting been paid to include these products.  Products mentioned here are provided as ideas and suggestions to help you Thrive On with food allergies.

If you find this post helpful learn more about Tami and her company, Thrive On Consulting, which helps families and individuals managing food allergies, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter